Liquid heating device



Aug. 16, 1932. w, HELLER 1,871,688

LIQUID HEATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l all/1m!!! f lNVEh/ITOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 16, 1932. E. w. HELLER 1,871,688

LIQUID HEATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sh et 2 INVENTOR Mad/Mam ATTORNEY'a Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITEDTST'ATES EDGAR W. HELLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY" LIQUID HEATING DEVICE macaw filed August 22, 1930. .Serial no. 477,138.

This invention relates to liquid heating apparatus and is concerned more specifically with a device by which liquid may be with drawn from a vessel, heated, and returned to the vessel in a continuous operation. The device of the invention is especially adapted for use in connect-ion with heating the lubricating oil for a gasoline engine during the warming-up period, and an embodiment of the invention suitable for that purpose will be presently described in detail, though it is to be understood that the utility of the apparatus is general and not limited to that particular use.

Vhen gasoline engines are'put into operation after a period of rest, the lubricating oil is likely to be thick, particularly on cold winter mornings. Accordingly, it is the practice to idle such motors, especially airplane motors, for a considerable period, to give the oil a chance to heatup and become sufficiently fluid to afford proper lubrication. If this is'not done, the oil may not provide the proper film, for example, for the cylinder walls, and these walls are liable to be scored and injured. The idling time required depends on temperatureconditions, and even though the motor be idled, damage is likely to be done it by reason of improper lubrication.

Attempts have been made heretofore to provide means for heating the oil in the tank of a motor but so far as I am aware, these heating devices have always taken the form of immersion heating units inserted into the oil through an opening in the tank wall.

Such heating devices are not satisfactory be cause they provide no means for circulating the oil and consequently do not heat efficiently or rapidly. Also they require electric current which may not always be available.

To overcome these difiiculties, I have devised a heating device for the purposes mentioned, by which oil is withdrawn from the tank by means of a pump,'heated, and returned in a continuous operation, the oil being circulated within the tank, so that the entire body of oil may be heated to the de- 7 sired temperature in a short space of time. One form of device to be used where electric current is available may mclude an electric heating element and a motor for driving the pump, while in another form, the device may be arranged for use in connection with a source of heat such as a blow torch, in which case, the pump maybe driven by hand or by a motor operating on a battery. In either form, the device is light in weight, and simple in construction and may be mounted permanently in place in the tank wall, or else inserted through an opening therein for use and removed when the heating is completed. When the device is to be mounted temporarily in the tank opening, it is preferably provided with means to prevent drip when it is withdrawn.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a device embodying the invention shown in operative position;

Fg. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation with parts illustrated in section;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. t

Referring further to the drawings the device of the form illustrated in Fig. 1 comv prises a casing 10in which is a pump chamber 11 which communicates through passage 12 with aheating chamber 13. Withinthe pump chamber are meshing gears 14 suitably mounted for rotation and with the chamber wall forming a gear pump. One ofthese gears is mounted on a shaft 15 which carries a worm gear 16 with which meshes a worm 17 and shaft 18 of an electric motor.

Disposed within the heating chamber is an electric heating element which comprises a resistance coil 20 disposed within asuitable casing 21. This heating element is insertable through an opening in the end of the heating chamber which may be closed by a cover 22 having an opening for the passage of the leads 23 by which current is supplied to the coil. The leads extend to a switch 24 from which extends a cable 25 by which the device chamber and liquid drawn into the chamber is pumped out through passage 12 into the heating chamber where'it is caused to flowabout the outside of the casing 21 by a vane which cooperates with the heating'chaniber wall to form a helical passage.. Liquid leaving; this passage flowsout through the outletconduit 27. The intake conduit 26 is preferably slightly longer than the outlet conduit and the latter has a discharge'opening 31 at an angle to the axis thereof.

When-the device is to'be used for heating oil contained for example in a tank 32having an opening in the wall thereof defined by a neck 33,-the cap 34 normally'closing the'neck is removed and the double conduit inserted through the neck .until the end at the intake passage 26 lies beneath the normal liquid level in the tank. The switch 24 is now turned on supplying current to the motor and. to the-heating element. The pump draws oil through the conduit 26 and passes it through the heating chamber where its temperature is raised and the-heated oil is then discharged through the outlet conduit 27. The discharge of the oil into the tank causes movement of the liquid therein and circulation is promoted by forming the discharge outlet of conduit 27 at an angle to v the axis thereof so as to cause the heatedliquid to flow into the tank in adirection sub stantially parallel to the level of the liquid therein. The continuous heating and pumping are continued until the temperature of the oil in the-tankis raised tothe desired degree and the oilbecomesusufiiciently fluid sothatit can be used-with proper'lubricating efl'ect. 'VVlien these operations are completedthe device may be removed and thecapi34- restored to-close the tank openingalthough, insome instances, the device maybe permanently installedin the tank wall since it is light in weight andoccupies little space,

When the device is not 1 permanently; installed in thetank it is desirable to provide some means for removing oil which adheres to those portions-of the conduits which ex-i tend below the liquid level when the'device is in use and for this purpose the device may be provided with a sleeve 35 mounted slideably'on-the-conduits and provided with a wipingimember 86-whicl1:1nay take the form of. a leather-washer held .on-the end of the.

sleevebyianut 37-. Pivotally=mounted on the sleeve is acover -38 having a handle 39 acted on by a spring 40. When the device sleeve strikes the pin 41 at the end of one of the pipes. WVhen this occurs the pipes are withdrawnhthroughthe nozzle and as soon as the pipes are moved clear of the nozzle the-'c0ver-=38- swings to a position over the ends of the pipes as illustrated in Fig. 2.

-The-coverthus catches any drip from the pipes", c I

In some instanceswhere a supply ot'cura rent suitable forener izinmthe.heatin .ele-I a pump chamber 42'containing the gears43 and this pump chamber is in. communication with aheatingchamber44. Formeduinthe heating chamber 18. a flame chamber45 having an opening 46 in .which may .be inserted the nozzle 47 of a blow torch. Headingv from.

the flame chamber throughther opposite -wall ot the lieatingrchamber arepipes 48 commu nicatingwith a chimney 49.: In usingthis device the blow'torch is ignited and itsnozzle inserted in the opening 46. so that the flame enters the flame chamber and passes through the. pipes 48 of the chimney 49.. When thenpump is OperatedoilLfromLthe tank is drawn through thepump chamber and forced through the heating chamber intcona tact'with the outer walls of the pipesi48 andof the flame chamber.' The oil is --then: discharged through the outlet conduit. 27';

Thedevice illustrated in Fig.4 may bemm tor driven ,from .a 'battery orhother loW..ten.--1 sionsource of current or may be handoperated. V Thexhand operatedpumpisillustrated in the figure and one of the gears 0t the pumpfl is mounted-on the shatt 50 on whichis mounteda-pinion 51 -meshing. .wi th a gean52,provided with a -handle 53r The gear. 52 is mounted on a shaft .54. 4

' lVhilethe device is illustratedlas provided with heating means: inthepathlofnflow .of liquid leaving thehpump it will be evident. that the liquid may be heated beforepassing into thepump orthe .heatingemeans mayf be so disposed as to' .heat tlieliquid both as it flows to and from the pump. a c

What I claim:

1. In a'device for. heat-ingliquids containedcured together in parallel relation, said pipes having adjacent open ends, a pump to and from which said pipes lead, heatin means for heating liquid flowing through sai pipes, and means slidably mounted on said pipes and operable in one position to close the open ends thereof.

.3. In a liquid heater, a pair of pipes secured together in parallel relation, said pipes having adjacent open ends, a pump to and from which said pipes lead at their other ends, and a collar mounted slidably on said pipes and provided with means for wiping the exterior of said pipes.

4. In a liquid heater, a pair of pipes secured together in parallel relation, said pipes having adjacent open ends, a pump to and from which said pipes lead at their other ends, and a collar mounted to slide on said pipes and having a closure operable to move to a position to close the open ends of said pipes.

5. In a liquid heater, a casing containing a pump chamber and a heating chamber, said chambers being in communication, heating means in the heating chamber, a pipe leading to the pump chamber, a pipe leading from the heating chamber, and means in the pump chamber for drawing liquid through the first pipe, passing it through the chambers in succession, and discharging it through the second pipe.

6. In a portable liquid heater, the combination of a pump chamber, a heating chamber in communication therewith, pump means in the pump chamber, an inlet pipe leading to one chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the other chamber, said pipes being connected to lie side by side and a heating element in the heating chamber in the path of liquid flowing therethrough.

7. In a portable liquid heater, the combination of a pump chamber, a heating chamber in communication therewith, pump means in the pump chamber, an inlet pipe leading to one chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the other chamber, an enclosed heating element in the heating chamber, and a partition in the chamber for causing liquid flowing through the chamber to pass in contact with the casing of the element along a tortuous path.

8. In a portable liquid heater, the combination of a pump chamber, a heating chamher in communication therewith, pump'means in the pump chamber, an inlet pipe leading to one chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the other chamber, a plurality of tubes within the heating chamber, the liquid flowing through said chamber in contactwith the outside of said tubes, and means for introducing hot gases into said tubes to give up heat to said liquid.

9. In a portable liquid heater, the combination of a casing containing a pump chamber and a heating chamber in communication therewith, pump means in the pump chamber,.an inlet pipe leading to one chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the other chamber, means in the heating chamber for heating the liquid flowing therethrough, and means mounted on the casing for operating the pump.

10. In a portable liquid heater, the combination of a casing containing a pair of chambers in communication, a pair of pipes each in communication with one of the chambers, a pump in one chamber, pipes in the other chamber, the liquid flowing therethrough contacting with the exterior of said pipes, an admission chamber in said casing through which hot gases may be admitted into said pipes within said other chamber, and an exhaust chamber into which said gases are discharged from said pipes.

11. In a device for heating liquids contained in a Vessel, the combination of a casing, a pair of parallel pipes leading from the casing and connected together, the free ends of said pipes being open and said pipes being adapted to be introduced into the vessel with the open end of at least one pipe below the level of the liquid therein, means in the casing for drawing liquid from the vessel through said pipe into the casing, a chamber in the casing into which the liquid drawn in is discharged, said second pipe being in communication withsaid chamber, and means in said chamber for heating the liquid passing through the chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDGAR W. HELLER. 

